Tech Weekly: Anthropic Shuts Down AI Models, Apple's iOS 27 Revealed, and More
AI and Government Regulation
This week saw dramatic developments in AI oversight. The US government directed Anthropic to shut down its advanced Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models over national security concerns, prompting a wave of reactions from industry and policy experts. Meanwhile, Meta employees are openly revolting against CEO Mark Zuckerberg's AI strategy, with internal petitions and public criticism of a proposed company-wide hackathon. Google also quietly changed a major privacy setting, now requiring users to opt out of storing images and audio used with AI features.
- Anthropic shuts down Fable, Mythos models following Trump admin. directive (Ars Technica)
- Meta Employees Absolutely Hate Zuckerberg’s Plan for a Companywide AI Hackathon (WIRED)
- Google just changed a major privacy setting — here's the switch I turned off immediately (Tom's Guide)
Apple Ecosystem Updates
Apple's iOS 27 beta is now in developers' hands, bringing a host of new features including AI-powered Safari tab grouping, custom extensions, and a redesigned lock screen. The update also introduces support for new keyboards and typing improvements across multiple languages. On the audio front, AirPods gain a customizable equalizer with the latest firmware, while macOS Golden Gate warns users about soon-to-be-incompatible Intel apps. Siri AI's new 'personal-context understanding' features have drawn both praise and privacy concerns.
- iOS 27: All the New Safari Features (MacRumors)
- What Apple Just Changed in the New AirPods Update for iOS 27 (Geeky Gadgets)
- How to See Which Mac Apps Will Stop Working After macOS Golden Gate (MacRumors)
- Siri AI may be privacy-first, but the new 'personal-context understanding' features really creep me out (Tom's Guide)
Cybersecurity
Two major security stories broke this week. The notorious ShinyHunters group claimed to have compromised over 100 organizations by exploiting a critical Oracle PeopleSoft zero-day, including a UK university. Separately, the Arch User Repository (AUR) removed more than 400 software packages after finding them compromised with malware that installed keyloggers and info-stealers.
- ShinyHunters Hacked 100+ Organizations By Exploiting an Oracle PeopleSoft 0-Day (Slashdot)
- Arch User Repository Removes Over 400 Software Packages Compromised by Malware (TechPowerUp)
Hardware and Infrastructure
AMD opened pre-orders for its Ryzen AI Halo mini PC developer kits, packing a Strix Halo processor and 128GB of unified memory. Valve's import records suggest the first mass shipments of the Steam Frame VR headset have arrived in the US. SpaceX announced a massive 11-million-square-foot 'Gigasat' factory in Texas to build hardware for orbiting AI data centers. Meanwhile, data center opposition groups have blocked or delayed projects worth nearly $130 billion in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
- AMD Opens Pre-Orders for Ryzen AI Halo Mini PC Dev Kits (TechPowerUp)
- Valve just imported 13 tons of VR headsets in one day (The Verge)
- Say hello to Elon Musk's mega new SpaceX facility — an 11-million-square-foot Gigasat factory (TechRadar)
- Data Center Opponents Have Blocked Or Delayed Projects Worth Nearly $130 Billion In 2026 (Slashdot)
Automotive
In a bizarre twist, Chinese Tesla owners have discovered a simple way to fool Autopilot's driver-monitoring cameras: using doll heads and blinking screens to simulate attention.
- Chinese drivers have figured out a silly way to fool Tesla Autopilot and it involves doll heads (Digital Trends)
Science and Health
A landmark study identified a single 'core' driver of osteoarthritis, potentially revolutionizing treatments. Robotics researchers at the University of Bristol created a tiny soft pump that could power soft robots without bulky components.